CH 107

John got off the phone and went looking for Allison. There was was something he had to explain to her.

Down in the dining room, Louise was looking at some music sheets she spread out.

"Louise, did you see Allison come through here?" John asked.

Louise jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "She ran out the back. Something going on?"

"Nothing important. Just a little misunderstanding." Looking outside, he saw Allison running up the driveway. "I'll be back shortly."

John went out and got in the purple jeep. He wasn't going to chase her on foot. Allison was quick , John got to the top of the driveway and she was almost out of sight on the road. Following her, he saw her slow down and stomp a foot. He put the passenger side window down. She let out a huff and stopped. He drove up and offered, "I came and got you, let me take you home."

She nodded and got in. Frowning at the dash, she said, "I'm sorry."

John drove on slower. "Allison, I have to explain something. I do love you. I love you like a daughter. I've watched you grow up. I love you like I love Joan, Jackie, Louise, and yeah, Peggy and Lilly. I'd do anything for any of you. But I do see you all as our kids. No matter how old you get. So even if Cameron said yes and Delilah agreed, I'd still say no. Understand?"

A small smile crept up on her face. "Yeah. I just ... nevermind."

"I though you were getting pretty tight with Joan and Bob?" he asked

"I am. I love them both." she agreed. With a shrug and a wince, she added, "I just thought you were missing Cameron."

John chuckled. "I am missing Cameron, very much. Delilah too. The thing is, you're not her. Yes you look identical, but you are not the same person. Cameron is Cameron, and you are you."

Allison looked out the window. "Dad's home, he's out on the lake," she said. Looking at the boat through the trees, she added, "I think Mom's with him."

"Nice day for a boat ride," John said. "Going to grab your tail and go catch up?"

"I might." she said.

John pulled partway down their drive and stopped. "Allison, don't get out." he said firmly.

She was about to ask why, then saw the tires on their car were all flat. "Rats are here?" she asked weakly.

"Could be. I'll go look. When I get out, get into the driver's side. If you see rats, drive away," John said firmly.

"And leave you?" she asked with a shocked look.

"To go get the dozer tank. If rats are here, we have to draw them away," he told her and got out. "Keep the car running," he said and shut his door.

.

Daniel was glad the lake had alligators.

As soon as got home from work, he heard Claire screaming inside. Running in, he found her standing on the dining room table, rats climbing the legs to get at her as she was swatting them off with a broom. Her face was pure terror. He suddenly felt terrified also. They had killed some of these rats, and when one was hurt, they came from everywhere to attack. Thankfully, they had killed those rats and only a few people had gone to the hospital.

Now, his wife was trying to defend herself against a few dozen of these little monsters. Daniel ran in and yelled, "Claire, jump on my back, hurry!"

Daniel" she cried. He ran by the table, she jumped and wrapped wrapped her arms around his neck. Daniel made a b-line for the door.

"What are they?" she cried.

"Just hang on!" he yelled back and ran out of the house.

Unfortunately, he forgot to shut the door, the rats were right behind him, pealing out that horrid chittering cry. He ran for the car. He also realized there was no time to get Claire in then himself before these things were all over him. Changing direction, he ran around the car hoping to confuse them. He didn't. Running down through the yard he did gain a little ground on them.

Frantic for a way to escape, he looked at the boat as he ran down through the yard. Fear powering his legs he ran down on the dock and jumped in the boat, then quickly untied it and pushed it away from the dock. The rats raced down the dock after them. He grabbed a paddle he kept in the boat in case the motor died to push farther away from the dock. He didn't think rats could swim.

They reached the end of the dock and jumped in the water, still after them.

"Shit!" he cried and splashed paddles of water at them frantically, which got them moving a bit.

SNAP

From underwater a set of alligator jaws appeared and grabbed a rat to disappear back under. Yes! He had nothing to kill rats with, but all he had to do was get near alligators! Looking at the bank, he saw a couple more slip into the water. From under them, another one was coming up.

SNAP Another alligator stuck, and another rat disappeared.

The pack of rats trying to swim after him chittered their cries louder. Splashing and making noise, the rats attracted more alligators.

"Eat'em!" Daniel cried happily as more rats were engulfed by alligator jaws and disappeared. He kept splashing at the rats, moving them a little faster away from the pack. Seeing a big alligator coming up at the boat, he stopped splashing. The danger from below, the rats didn't see, seeing the morsels in the water, the big gator surfaced to grab three at once and drag them below.

Exhausted from his panicked flight, Daniel watched the rats go down to hungry alligators. It was an alligator feeding frenzy. Many came up for seconds and thirds. The last few of the rats figured out there were in deep trouble swam in circles, crying out. In a short time, there were no rats left. Just alligators poking the eyes and snouts out of the water, looking for more food.

Claire was crying in racking sobs. It was now Daniel noticed she had bite marks on her ankle.

Daniel hugged her. "They're gone, the alligators ate them all," he explained.

"There still might be some in the house" she cried.

He got it, they couldn't go back to the house. Even if every rat had followed them, Claire would be too scared to go inside. She was bleeding too. Doing the only thing he could think of, he started the motor and headed to John's house.

.

John stepped inside their house quietly. He listened an didn't hear anything. Seeing the knawed in table legs and a couple chair legs, he knew rats had been here. Remembering Alison had seen her father's boat, John knew he was going for help. He went back out to see Allison in the car, watching him. He ran back to the car.

"John, I don't see any!" she called.

He got in the passenger side. "I think your folks got away, they could be hurt." Seeing the boat headed for their place, He pointed. "They are coming to our house for help. Go back."

Allison did, raising dust on the road from her speed. She didn't park in the driveway, but drove down through the yard right to the dock. The alligator in the yard picked her head up, eyeing them. Allison jumped out and ran at the end of the dock. Seeing her parents coming she waved them closer. John went in the house to grab the first aide kit.

Running into the house, John grabbed the white box with an 'X' on it and ran back out to see Daniel pull up to the dock.

Claire wasn't pleased John rinsed her bite marks out then used Iodine on them for a disinfectant before applying a bandage.

After she hissed out a scream, he explained, "It stings, but it kills anything. Daniel, use my car to get her to the hospital. Daniel got her in, Allison went with them. He drove back up through the yard and up the driveway.

Right after they left, John called his mother. They hadn't seen any red-eyed rats yet, so John warned them about them. He then called their biologists and explained the danger to them. His next call was to the sheriff to let him know him know Daniel had Claire had a rat infestation.

.

Every house around the lake was build sturdy in case of hurricanes of tornadoes. There were no light poles, the electric was on underground concrete tunnels, and where the wires came out were inside each house and the power plant, which was also very sturdily built with steel doors. He puzzled about how those rats got in the house.

Jackie came home with Daniel Collins. John told them about the rats and to keep the doors shut and first floor windows closed to try and keep them out. He then got back in the dozer tank and drove down the road. Near Daniel's house he turned the rat screech on and went slow, looking for any takers. None appeared. He waited a few minutes and watched around. A couple alligators climbed up on the bank, but no rats. He turned the recorder off. Going around the house John inspected each window. He also shut the door that had been left open. He did find a window screen that had been chewed through. He went inside and shut all the windows so no more rats could get in.

John then thought about Carol, Bob's mother. He drove down to her house. Her little Jeep was intact. She opened the door as he drove into the driveway. She came out to meet him.

John had his hatch open. "Have any rat problems?" he asked.

"No, but I heard plenty about them. Did they get to your place?" she asked with a worried look.

"No, but Daniel is taking care of Claire who got bit by one. They escaped by water. The rats jumped in to follow them and got eaten by alligators."

"Yes, I saw Cameron's car race by. They were taking Claire to the hospital?"

John nodded. "Well stay inside and keep the doors and windows shut. The rats climbed up and ate holes in the screens to get in to get to Claire's house. Have you called Bob?"

"I tried, no answer. Joan didn't pick up either."

"hmm." John frowned. That didn't sound good. He wondered if they were having the same problems.

.

Joan walked down a street in Dallas beside Bob wearing Texas Guard vests and tall thick leather boots. They both wielded big rubber hammers. Behind them, six more Texas Guards with leg protection followed in an open top Humvee with metal shields on solid foam-filled tires. They bore steel posts with flat metal welded to the ends.

"Ok, do it again!" the driver called to Joan. Joan faced one side or the street, Bob the other.

Joan then wailed our in a chittering screech like the distressed Demon Rats did. The first one brought nothing. She did it again, and they began to appear.

"Here they come!" one of the men said.

"A big pack from this side!" Bob announced.

Joan screeched again, Rats mainly from Bob's side ran out into the road at them. "Bumper time!" Bob yelled and jumped up on the vehicle's wide front bumper. Joan rapidly smacked a few rats into paste with her hammers, then squashed the back legs of another to make it squeal out. She then jumped up on the bumper and kicked the one on her foot off.

The driver rolled slowly on as the other men pounded the rats with the metal plates on their poles. Many rats were squealing out now, so Joan didn't have to. All she had to do mow was keep squashing rat that tried to get up on the bumper. Bob was banging away at the rats on his side also. The rabid sounding rats kept trying to attack them as the men smashed their poles down on them. Rolling along slow, they left a rail of fur and red gore behind them.

All over the city, volunteers, Texas Guard and police were calling rats out to squash them. Even the news people rode in open topped cars carrying more men with poles to smash any rats that came at them.

The blonde News caster with the microphone pointed ahead at the men killing rats and said, "HERE is the Federal Government's endangered species trying to kill more people! Look at this, does this look like only rumor to YOU? These Demon Rats are destroying homes and attack anyone who try to do anything about them! I take you to Ed, who is going to talk to the scientists who can PROVE these things were made by someone. Ed, You're on!

"We're off," the cameraman said.

The reporter looked the Humvee in front of her and growled, "Kill them all!"

Everything was being used in Dallas and other cities to kill these rodents. The call that the man only known as 'sheriff' was sine tingling to hear, but rats came out in droves to go attack the source. Metal plates on poles, where they had them, flame throwers, and everyone with a BB gun was out killing every rat they could find. The Governor came in and asked people to stop using .22's and larger firearms, because bullets were bounced up and wounding people. A police official came on to explain bird shot from a shotgun shot low to the ground was an effective weapon if you couldn't find anything else to use. He also stressed making sure no one was in the path of the shot.

.

Coming to an intersection on their rat hunt, Joan saw a large pack of college students standing in the road. Many of them held up signs of 'Stop the slaughter!' and 'You're the rat if you're killing innocent creatures!'

After spending most of their second day going street by street trying to get rid of those things, Bob let out a snort and asked, "Are you people for real?"

One of the men yelled back, "We see you killing them, We'll kill you!"

"Let's test that!" Joan announced. She stared wailing out her screech. The young man strode towards her holding up a can. She ducked, the spray went over her head. She whipped up with a hammer and popped him in the side of the head. He dropped flat. She screeched again, glaring at the protesters.

"You BITCH!" one of the women cried and ran at her, holding up her sign like she was going to hit Joan with it..

Pop. Joan hit the woman in the forehead with a rubber hammer. She recoiled and dropped flat.

"They're coming!" Bob warned.

Joan saw rats coming from the sides, and from behind the crowd. She ran for the bumper. Bob got on, Joan jumped on.

"You people better run!" Bob yelled as Joan screeched again.

When the first cries of pain and screams wailed out, the protesters broke up.

Joan grinned as the rats focused on them. Signs were now being used to try and smack at the rats as the protesters kicked out and broke up to run in all directions. "What are you doing? I thought you wanted to save those rats?" Joan yelled to them.

Wailing and screaming, they didn't seem to hear her. One woman ran at the Humvee crying and screaming. She scampered up on. Joan knocked the rat on the back of her leg off, Bob smashed it on the hood.

A couple people were on the ground now, flailing away as rats climbed over them, biting.

"Aww hell," Joan grumbled. They were stupid, but she couldn't stand by and watch those people get killed. Joan jumped off the bumper and ran over to save them.

"Damn it, Joan!" Bob yelled and followed her.

Stomping on rats and smashing them with their hammers as fast as they could, They got to the woman on the ground who was flailing and trying to knock the rats off her. She was rather large, and was squashing a few by herself by rolling around on the ground. She was showing bite marks everywhere also.

Thankfully the Humvee came close. Bob grabbed right arm and leg, Joan got the left side, they hauled her up and in, then went for the thinner woman who was swatting away frantically at the rats. Again, luckily, they'd killed most of them. Joan got ankle bites a few times and feeling bites, she smashed the rat against her leg to kill it.

Bob got one on his back. He managed to swing behind himself and knock it off and stomp on it. Getting the last one, they grabbed this woman to haul her up and toss her on the humvee. They then got the two unconscious ones up and on.

"Get on, we gotta go to the hospital," the driver yelled.

Bob looked at the now over full vehicle with two wounded and two knocked out lying in it. "Where?"

"Just go, we'll follow" Joan said with a wave of her bloody hammer.

"We'll be back!" the driver said and took a turn to head towards the hospital.

Joan watched them go. To Bob, she said, "Don't worry, our nanites will take car of the bites we got."

Bob eyed her. "Fine for you, what about me?"

Joan grinned. "Every time you suckle on me, you get more. You have plenty of nanites, Bob."

"Ah, I guess I do," he agreed. He grinned back at her and asked, "So do I have a daily minimum allowance?"

Joan faked a cute frown. "Not sure, but I'm not going to drain my breasts myself. It's much more fun if you do it."

The news car stopped by them. "Get on with us," the reporter said and held her hand out.

"Thanks!" Joan said. She and Bob sat on the rear deck, their feet on the back seats between the men guarding the car with poles with flat plates welded to the bottoms.

"Can I get an interview?" the woman asked.

"Sure, why not," Joan agreed.

.

The sheriff's method of drawing in Demon Rats to kill them was working well and expanded rapidly to get rid of those very destructive and aggressive things. Meanwhile other biological labs were proving the same thing that the Driftwood vet had. Demon Rats were genetically engineered by someone. Yet there was no investigation started as to who was responsible.

Catherine and Cameron got word of this through John Henry. In a satellite conversation, John Henry explained the situation. "These rodents are beginning to be contained through elimination by local governments. There has been many deaths, injuries and property damage from these rodents yet any national news or efforts to deal with the problem have not been initiated. Federal Agents tried to arrest Sonya for killing rats that got into her factory. In several other states, others have also been arrested for killing them."

"Have you found out where they came from?' Catherine asked.

"No. I've searched but there is no indication of who is behind these rodents," John Henry explained.

"Can these things be captured alive?" Cameron asked.

"So far, that has not been attempted." John Henry told her.

"What are you thinking?" Catherine asked.

"We need to look beyond just this one incident," Cameron said. "These things suddenly appeared in many places, they are a designed life form and then they were put on the endangered species list. I suspect they were made for a purpose. When the event that caused their making is found, then we will know who made them. John Henry, look for the event that happened right before these rats appeared and the locations they appeared in."

John Henry grew his creepy smile. "Yes, Cameron, I had not been thinking along those lines. I will get right on that."

John Henry disconnected.

"This began from very high up, and the source is being kept very quiet." Catherine said thoughtfully. "That makes this problem very troublesome."

"Possibly someone in the Federal Government, and they are suppressing the facts of what's happening," Cameron agreed.

"This is going to be bad," Delilah said vacantly.

"What if it's a distraction for something else?" Cameron asked.

"What?" Delilah asked.

"I don't know, but we better keep sharp and watch for anything else unusual," Cameron said.

.

In the Texas Governor's office, the Governor was looking at the incoming information and his aides were being in new information.

"Sir, we have 30,000 guardsmen and 41,000 volunteers working to get rid of these rats all over the state. The Sheriff of Driftwood found out they will come attack a recording of one of their cries. He has cleared his town of these things by drawing the in with this call, them killing them. He also arrested a couple Federal agents who wanted to arrest a woman for killing the rats that were on her property and attacked her."

"Sir, The latest Houston report shows their rat problem is confined to the east side. The search and draw out teams seem to be clearing the city. Galveston does not yet appear to have an infestation. They are on guard."

"Austin is also having major infestations, and using everyone and everything they have to remove the problem. Nearby Johnson city and Driftwood have been cleared."

"San Antonio has not reported any infestations yet, they are keeping watch. Laredo and El Paso areas have reported no problems as well. "

The Governor took all this in. "It appears central Texas is having the most infestations of these rats," he noted.

Two more men came onto his office. They made their way to his desk and announced, "Governor, The President wishes to inform you if you do not release the Federal Inspectors and comply with his order to cut petroleum production, all Federal aide to the State of Texas will be withheld!"

The Governor eyed the men and replied, "Then it is, I'm not going to make the people of Texas suffer from an idiotic decision, even if it is from the President. Now get out, we have an emergency here!"

The men turned and left.

The Governor said, "I want all departments to begin searching for where these rats came from. has anyone even started looking into the origin of these rats?"

"Sir," the secretary of Justice said, "The only one I know of is John Henry."

"Who's John Henry?"

"We don't know sir. All we know is his name. He calls with good information on many things. He is to call again tonight to get all the information we have on these rodents, and share what he's learned. He has contacted us on other matters as well. His information is always accurate."

"Is he a federal agent? Who does he work for?" The Governor pressed.

"We don't know. We've tried to get a phone trace, but it never works. Same with an IP trace when he sends E-mails. It's like he doesn't exist anywhere, but knows about everything."

"So this John Henry is looking for the source of these rats? How can we be sure he's not the one who caused this disaster?" The Governor asked angrily.

"I highly doubt that. We've had several cases where John Henry has helped with investigations, Sir."

"Find out who he is and who he works for. I want to speak with him."

"I will try, sir," the man said with a sigh.

.

The playoff game against New England was postponed until two days after Christmas, so maybe the Superbowl would be played on New Year's day. Instead of Miami, their play off game was changed to be in Los Angeles. The team transpiration was to be by bus.

"Now hold on!" Greg said loudly. "Whatever happened to planes?"

Coach Emerson shrugged and said, "The team can't afford the expense due to the high cost of the tickets due to fuel costs and extra taxes."

"This is bullshit! It'll take us three days to get there!" Pete announced.

"Spending Christmas day riding on a bus, How nice," Joan added in a sarcastic tone.

"No, we'll leave to be in LA on Christmas day," Coach Emerson told her.

"We won't have to fight rats there, will we?" Bob asked.

"No rats have been found in California. Well none of the furry little red eyed kind," Coach Emerson replied. "However, we have been told it is best to stay inside the stadium while we're there. Los Angeles is not a place to be caught on the street, especially if you don't live there."

"Wonderful," Joan grumbled.

"Everyone is to be back here on December 15th so we an start our training for the game. A week of training, then after we get to LA, we finish up while we wait for the game to start," Coach Emerson told them.

Bob blew out a breath. "We've been killing rats the last few days, I haven't been able to check new tires yet."

"Yeah, they said ten days, right?" Joan asked.

"So today's what the first? We might get them by the end of next week." Bob grumbled.

Joan pondered, "Maybe we can get a private plane."

"Let's go."

.

Walking back to their apartment, Joan talked to the airport on her phone. "What do you mean, none available? ... Why are they all booked out until next week? ... well that's stupid! ... OK, fine, thank you for trying." She then shoved her phone in her pocket and gave Bob a frown. "Every private plane is scheduled for flights up through the end of next week, every frigging private plane they know of. Apparently, all the major airlines have to be charged the 'Federal' price for fuel. Only planes registered in Texas can get fuel ad the normal price. Right no it's cheaper to get a private flight, than to fly on an aniline. And the Airlines are making fewer flights due to the fuel shortages imposed by the Federal government. Everyone and their brother have been booking private fights. They are searching for more pilots who own their own planes."

Bob let out a snort. "The world really is going insane."

Joan ginned and said, "I got an idea, let's go buy a plane!"

"Got a pilot's license in your back pocket?" Bob asked.

"NO! We get one of those ultra light planes, you don't need a license for those. Or, we can just stay in the apartment with no electricity for a few weeks."

Bob thought about that they perked up with a fake smile, "Yeah, why not I've always wanted to learn how to fly."

.

Going back the the apartment, Joan cooked on a pan over a can of steno. They had all their eggs and sausage left - stuffing themselves and drank as much of the juice as they could. Bob talked to the manager. The wouldn't have to pay rent for a month, due to the lack of electric. The electrical Inspector had said it would be 'a while' before anyone came, and after the repairs were done, then the building needed to get inspected. December was a freebie. Since they had paid for December, they would be credited for January. A dumpster was coming this afternoon for their trash, which was expected to be a lot since everyone was cleaning out their refrigerators and freezers.

Those things didn't smell good after a week of no electricity.

Joan found a 'light plane' sales place a mile away. They even had planes for sale there, and taught people how to fly. Joan scheduled them to behind learning tomorrow morning, and told him they needed a 2 seater to get to Driftwood. Harold took Joan's information and got her booked for 9 AM.

For dinner, they ate the steaks and some veggies out of the freezer before they emptied out the freezer and refrigerator, cleaned the fridge and freezer and took the four bags of garbage out to the long dumpster than was already mostly full. The water left in their hot water heater was warm enough to let them shower together and not freeze. At least Joan was good at waking up when she wanted to, for the alarm clock ran on electric.

Bummed out about how the day went, they only snuggled close and talked about getting into their flying adventure.

In the morning, they were up early, ate the last of their food and headed out for the local airport where these light planes were. It was a hike to get there and they arrived a half hour early.

The place looked like a regular airport, only smaller with one 'terminal' building and airplane hangers to the sides. They went in and up to the counter. Joan explained she talked to Harold about learning how to fly and buying a plane. The lady got on the phone and said, "Harold, Joan Connor's here." She then told them, "He'll be right out."

A minute later, a tall, slim, dark haired man appeared and asked "Mrs. Connor?"

Joan replied, "That's my mother. I'm Joan, this is Bob."

He shook their hands and said, "Right now, the only thing we got flyable is a few float planes. Those rats got in and chewed up the tires for most of our other planes, and we're waiting on replacements. Is a float plane good for you?"

"Perfect, we live on a lake," Joan told him.

"Great! Follow me. You both have driver's licensees?" he asked. They headed for an office.

"We do," Bob told him. "I gotta ask, what does driving a car have to do with flying?"

Harold grinned and said, "Joan you mentioned you want to fly to Driftwood and back, correct?"

Joan nodded.

"To save you a bunch of headache, I highly recommend you get sport pilot's licenses. An ultralight doesn't have enough range to get you where you want to go, and the light sport planes will, plus they are much more comfortable. All three float planes are light sport models. It's much faster and easier getting sport licensees, than a regular pilot's license. Cheaper too. The only prerequisite is to have a driver's license."

"What's the big difference between the ultralights and sport planes?" Bob asked.

"Ultralights are things like the bare frame single seaters, balloons, para gilders. Sport planes look like more normal light planes. They are enclosed and you can land them at airports. You can't land an ultralight at an airport."

The more he talked, the more Joan and Bob decided it would be a good idea to get their sport plane licenses and buy a sport plane. Bob even offered to pay for their training, which was only a few hundred bucks.

Harold went into the office and got them training manuals an signed them up for training and EAA memberships for Sport pilots. The then took them out to a small lake that was not quite as big as the one they had at home.

Two of the planes sat on long pontoons ad had the propellers in front. One had the prop behind the wings and sat lower on the water on the hull. Bob explained the differences. "These two are the common variety, props in front so they have to sit up higher. This one is what's called a pusher prop. Easier to get into and the emergency chute is activated between the seats. It' also newer than the Cessna's. They are five and six years old, and strictly water-borne. The Ion 5 here has landing gear so it can land on a runway, or water. It's only 2 years old. It also has a variable prop for reverse thrust."

They climbed up onto one of the Cessna's and looked at the panes and the storage space, then the Icon 5. It was easier to get into, the cockpit was even with the dock. It also had a more car-like dashboard. Behind them, the storage area was about the same. The seats in this one also folded back, and forward.

"How much is this one?" Joan asked as she held the yoke.

"$154,000. A little more expensive but it's a real nice plane with the latest updates and inflight GPS tracking and autopilot," Harold told them.

"So, it's like a regular plane," Bob concluded.

"It is a regular plane," Harold said with a grin. "Only in the light-sport class."

"We'll take it. that is, as long as it flies good," Joan said.

Harold clapped his hands and asked, "Who wants to go for your introductory flight?"

"I do!" Joan beamed.

Bob got out so Joan could move over. Harold took the rope off the front, got in and shut the canopy. He showed Joan what each readout was for, the started the plane up. It started right up and the engine sounded smooth. He backed away from the dock then turned and went out into the lake. He then powered up and the plane all but jumped forward. He used maybe sixty yards of water and they were airborne.

Joan was grinning ear to ear watching Harold and listening to him as he explained the controls and what he was doing. The seat was comfortable and although she heard the drone of the engine, it wasn't loud like she thought it would be. Once they were in the air a few minutes, Harold let her steer from her side. It was easy to steer, and climb and dive. She kept a close watch on the speed indicator and direction.

"So, what do you think?" Harold asked.

"I love it," Joan beamed. "But, I only have $130,000 I can spend."

"Can Bob chip in?" he asked.

Joan frowned. "He's paying for our house. That wouldn't be fair."

"You both work?"

"Yeah, we play football."

Harold looked at her, then said, "You're THAT Joan Connor?"

Joan laughed. "I am."

Harold itched his chin. "Tell you what, Let me get a picture of you with me in front of this plane, and I'll work it so with tax, the price comes out to be $130,000 total."

"Deal! How long will it take to get my license?"

"You're eager?"

"Hell yes!"

"You both study hard, pass your tests and get your practice flights on, we can do it in three days."

"Best deal I've had all week," Joan beamed.

Bob had his turn at his introductory flight. This time, Harold showed him how the landing hear worked and landed on the runway and taxied up to the office building. Joan was already inside reading her training manual.

Seeing them, she came out to meet them when they got out. "Bob, what do you think?"she asked brightly.

Bob shrugged and said, "It beats getting stuck in traffic. It's a real nice plane."

Harold said, "Take the day to study your manuals. Tomorrow morning, we'll begin your training flights. I'll get this in a hanger and get it ready for you. Joan, do you have financing available?"

"Cash. Want me to pay for it today?"

"Right after we get a picture with the plane," Harold agreed.